Improvement in mechanisms for operating screw-propellers



1. wucoxfim Mechanisms for Operating Screw-Propellers. 0. 139,098. Patenteic-1-May 20.1873

AM. PHD TD-LITHOERAPHIL on My (osBaR/vz's macaw UNITED; STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES WILGOXEN, OF RUSSELLVILLE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MECHANISMS FOR OPERATING SCREW-BROPELLERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,098, dated May 20, 1873; application filed January 25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs WILCOXEN, of Russellville, in the county of Lawrence and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Propelling and Steering Apparatus, of which the following is a specifidrive-wheel being also geared with the crankshaft in the vessel for being operated. Twin screws and rudders are used to have one counteract the other in respect to the tendency of the drive-wheel to cause the propeller and rudder to swing around their axis in the application of the driving force. The two vibrating frames are connected together so asto act synchronously, and the chains of the steer-.

ing-wheel are connected to them to work them to steer the boat Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of part of the helm of a vessel, and side elevavation of one of the propellers and rudders and drivinggear, the section being taken on the line a m of Fig. 2, which is a plan view, showing both the vibrating frames, one of the propellers, and the driving-gear.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

A represents two strong stationary frames projecting from the stern of the vessel, one at each quarter, at the outer end of which is a short frame, B, pivoted at (3, so as to swing.

drive-wheels for turning the propeller; they are mounted on vertical axes coinciding with the pivots 0, around which the propellerframes swing, so they may swing without interference with or obstruction to the gearing of the said wheel with them by the pinions I. The said drive-wheels gear with the crankshaft K by the intermediate shafts L and suitable gear-wheels, and the engine connects with the crank-shaft. The arrangement of the gearing is such that the propellers turn in opposite directions, so that their tendency to swing, caused by the application of the power by the drive-wheels, is neutralized, the one by the other, the two frames B being connected by the rod M, so that each acts on the other. This connection also causes the synchronous action of the rudders and propellers for steering the vessel. The chains of the pilot-wheel will be connected to these frames in the same manner as they are attached to the rudders of the ordinary arrangement. The rudders need not necessarily be connected to these propellerframes; they may be arranged separately, either one or two being used; but, for convenience in actuating them by the frames, I prefer to attach them as shown.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. Twin propellers E, mounted on vibrating frames B, having attached thereto therudders D, and geared with the crank-shaft by horizontal wheels pivoted in the axes of the frames, the said frames being connected together, and the propellers geared to revolve in opposite directions, combined and operating substantially as specified.

-2. The combination with the vessel of the stationary frames A and vibrating frames B,

arranged and adapted for the support and operation of the propellers, substantially as spec ified.

JAMES WILOOXEN. 

